Equinox Lecture: Lee McIntyre on "Post-Truth: Is Every Day April Fools Day Now?"

Greater Boston Humanists is happy to present a special lecture in the gap in the Hub's programming for Spring. On SUNDAY at 1:30 pm at the Humanist Hub space in Harvard Square, we'll celebrate the Spring Equinox with a lecture and discussion on one of the most important topics of our era, with special guest Lee McIntyre of Boston University: "Post-Truth: Is Every Day April Fools Day Now?"

Are we living in a post-truth world, where "alternative facts" replace actual facts and feelings have more weight than evidence? In this talk I trace out the development of the post-truth phenomenon from its roots in science denial, cognitive bias, and postmodernism through the rise of "fake news," "information silos," and alternative media. The denial of scientific facts about smoking, evolution, vaccines, and climate change paved the way for today's more widespread fact denial. I also discuss ways to fight back against the authoritarian threat posed by the politicization of reality, the first of which is to understand where post-truth comes from.

Lee McIntyre is a Research Fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University and an Instructor in Ethics at Harvard Extension School. His MIT Press book, Post-Truth, has just been published, and opens our dialogue as we all struggle together with this changed world. Snacks will follow. Parking is available on the street (free in Cambridge on Sundays) or in the JFK Garage (paid). The Harvard Square Red Line T station is just a half block away, as well as bus routes that stop at that station. Join us in the Hub space for this excellent follow-up to Lee McIntyre's previous engaging discussions.